Step Into Christmas

Today’s post title comes courtesy to you from Elton John’s snappy, underrated Christmas track from a few decades ago. If you haven’t heard it, get into the festive spirit by listening here. It’s also however, an apropos for a post that’s focused on one of the nation’s most prominent footwear retailers – SKECHERS. I’ve picked out some of my pairs for gifting to the whole family and highlighted what makes ’em so awesome – if you’re on the hunt for some great footwear picks for your loved ones, then look no further!

Bobs Earthwise Lil Empress Boot – $85Who It’s For: Your teenage daughter / sibling / niece
The whole Himalayan peasant look has really taken off in the last few years, leading to many an urban city dweller to don a pair of decidedly rustic booties or flats. As part of SKECHERS’ Bobs collection – which donates new shoes to kids in need – these cute ankle boots are made from soft suede and faux fur, and feel as cozy as they look. The wraparound suede lace and stripey ethnic fabric give it some decidedly cool style points that’ll make any hipster teen happy, whether waiting for the bus or strolling through the mall. Available in black and brown to match her wardrobe.

Mark Nason Dewsbury $140 and Ampthill Boot $130
Who It’s For: Your stylish yet practical husbandProlific and longstanding footwear designer Mark Nason has lent his rock ‘n’ roll vibe to a collection of SKECHERS shoes, including these two rugged styles. The Dewsbury boots are available in a rich shade of maple brown, and are made from premium leather for durability (and good looks). I love these ones in particular as they go seamlessly from day-to-night – he can wear them during casual Friday and look totally at place in a hip bar after work. The Ampthill boots have a more industrial feel, with smooth oiled leather, a jagged outsole, and contrasting stitching. No matter what, he’ll feel as good as they boots look – they both come with a memory foam cushioned insole that makes them perfect for a day of hiking, whether through the mall or down a trail.

Twinkle Toes: Shuffles – $59 eachWho It’s For: Your pint-sized niece that can’t get enough sparkle in her life.
One of the best parts about SKECHERS is you can easily find shoes for the whole family. Case in point? These cute, sparkly, rainbow-hued sneaks that would delight any little girl with a love for glitter. Available in both a full-colour and a cool-toned palette, these velcro sneakers have a bit of hippie flair to them with their tie dye pattern, but also a bit of princess glam with the glittery straps and studded rhinestones at the toe. If she’s a bit beyond velcro – no worries! SKECHERS carries an impressive lineup of sparkly, bedazzled, gem-laden shoes as part of their Twinkle Toes collection.

Flex Appeal ‘First Glance’+ ‘Something Fun’ – $85 eachWhile the shoes above demonstrate SKECHERS ability to create stylish yet functional casual footwear, they also have made serious in-roads into the athletic shoe realm. All of their sporty shoes are infused with the same energetic look and colour scheme as their more chill lines, but also offer great performance benefits like a shock-absorbing flexible midsole that moves the way your body does, and perforated mesh panels for breathable comfort. The Flex Appeal is one of their more diverse styles, coming in no fewer than half a dozen different variations (and each of those also often has multiple colour options, like the First Glance shoe above, which is also available in a sporty blue / orange combo and a dramatic blue / grey combo). Whether you’re a regular gym bunny or a casual stroller, at the very least you’ll look forward to lacing up your sneakers before pounding the pavement.

Hypersonic Sneakers – $46I can’t forget the boys of course! SKECHERS has a great range of rough-and-tumble-ready sneakers, sandals and shoes for boys that promise to live up to whatever mischief he’s getting into. The Hypersonic style above is particularly unique thanks to the zig zag strap in front that’s somewhere between velcro and actual shoelaces – but also delivers extra comfort and roominess as he can loosen or tighten it to his preference. Available in a sporty lime green and blue combo or a classic basic black, these kicks work for gym class, recess, and running amok the neighbourhood.

Counterpart – $75 eachI am intrigued by these shoes. The reason? There is something imminently classic about them, something that feels Air Jordan-esque almost. But there’s also something kind of futuristic about them – maybe it’s the large swaths of leather and mesh sans panels, a hallmark of most athletic shoes. Maybe it’s the way the SKECHERS logo stands out. Or maybe it’s the performance of the shoes, which include an unlined front mesh area to keep your toes from getting cramped up, and a gel-infused memory foam insole. Throw ’em on for a game of pickup in your front driveway, go for a jog, or visit the gym. No matter what, these men’s SKECHERS sneakers are a sleek choice any guy will be happy to put on.

S Lights: Waterspout Boots – $50 eachAs tempting as it was for me to write about the SKECHERS girls athletic shoes, I thought I’d change tacts to also demonstrate that they carry all-season kid-friendly footwear, like these adorable printed rainboots. Available in a classic, French-inspired polka dot or a girly bow pattern, these boots also pack a special surprise for kids who love to splash in puddles: the soles are actually equipped with bright lights that ‘spark’ with every step. They’re part of SKECHERS wildly popular S Lights lineup for boys and girls – all shoes which include lights in the soles. I singled out the rainboots because they’ll finally make your kid psyched for rainy days, plus if you live in a warmer Canadian climate they can actually be put on now, for slushy walks to the school bus. If you’re looking for something a little more cozy, I’d recommend SKECHERS Lil Frost Winter Princess ($88) for a touch of girly glam in her winterwear.

These are genuinely just a few of the current shoes on offer from SKECHERS. Shoes make a fabulous Christmas gift because apart from peeking into a pair of your loved ones’ sneakers to see what size they are, you don’t really have to worry about ‘fit’. While SKECHERS doesn’t currently offer Canadian online shopping, they are widely available across Canada, including at Hudson’s Bay. Just use their handy storefinder to track down the nearest retailer carrying their expansive line of family-friendly sneakers, boots, casual shoes and more. And as a final gift to you fromSKECHERS, I’m giving away four pairs of SKECHERS shoes of your choice to one lucky winner, valued at $300! If you’d like to outfit the whole family in fine footwear this festive season…read on to find out how you can enter to win!

1) Subscribe to the Canadian Gift Guide by entering your email (or clicking ‘Follow’) in the ‘Gift of Gab’ Box’ on the righthand column of this page. You MUST be a subscriber to enter this giveaway – if you already subscribe, you rock! Once you’ve signed up, leave a comment on this post by December 22, 2014, telling me what styles of SKECHERS shoes you’d pick if you were the winner.

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around December 23, 2014 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.

4) Bonus Entry: There are a few ways to score extra entries into this super sweet draw. Whatever entries you do, it is imperative that you leave proof of your bonus entry activities in separate comments. If you do them all in one comment, they won’t be counted.

– Like SKECHERS on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall telling them what your favourite styles are. Link back to your FB wall post in a separate comment below.

– Follow SKECHERS on Twitter and send out a Tweet about this giveaway that tags them and me (@cdngiftguide) and links back to this post. Link back to your Tweet in a separate comment below.

How generous! I’ve been an email subscriber for a quite a while now, really enjoy the ideas you come up with. If I won I’d select the Women’s Equalizer First Rate, the Men’s Agility Victory Won in navy/white, the Lite Swirlz Hottie Dottie for my granddaughter and the Go Run Ride Supreme for my grandson.

Hmm. Hard to choose…I’d go for the women’s Equalizer First Rate – because the heathered grey is cool. The women’s GoWalk 2 Flash (because they look stylin’ but comfy), the Amphill man’s boot in brown, and the Grand James Alpine Way women’s boots.

I would choose Flex Appeal Trade Winds in Turquoise for myself and for my husband Go Run Ultra in Gray/Blue, for my youngest son the Men’s Go Bionic Fuel in Blue Green and for my eldest son the Men’s Agility Victory Won in Navy/White

As much of this would go to my granddaughter whose feet are growing all the time, I’d like go with Flex Appeal and Something Fun – bearing in mind that I have inherited some of her shoes – what’s wrong with that picture

If I won this awesome prize, I would choose Dewsbury boots for my hubby, S-lights Waterspout boots for daughter and Flex Appeal First Glance for me. Thank you for the chance to win this terrific prize.

What an amazing giveaway.. I have never had a pair of sketchers.. I would choose Flex Appeal Spring Fever for myself, Sketchers on the Go Prevail for the hubby, Sketchers GoRun Ride Go Too for my son, Twinkle Toes: Shuffles- Sweet Steps for my little girl

Ah-mazing!! If I won I think I’d pick the Women Go Walk – Action shoes in navy for myself and the Men On the go – Extreme for the boyfriend. I’d let the boyfriend pick out the other two pairs. He loves his shoes – and he goes through them quick. He easily buys 5 pairs to my 1 every year.

Flex Appeal ‘First Glance’ + ‘Something Fun’ – $85 each
While the shoes above demonstrate SKECHERS ability to create stylish yet functional casual footwear, they also have made serious in-roads into the athletic shoe realm. All of their sporty shoes are infused with the same energetic look and colour scheme as their more chill lines, but also offer great performance benefits like a shock-absorbing flexible midsole that moves the way your body does, and perforated mesh panels for breathable comfort. The Flex Appeal is one of their more diverse styles, coming in no fewer than half a dozen different variations (and each of those also often has multiple colour options, like the First Glance shoe above, which is also available in a sporty blue / orange combo and a dramatic blue / grey combo). Whether you’re a regular gym bunny or a casual stroller, at the very least you’ll look forward to lacing up your sneakers before pounding the pavement.

S Lights Waterspout Boots x 2 for my little girls 5 & 7. they could sure use a good rainboot that lasts more then a month without getting a hole…haha.
For myself I LOVE the Bobs Earthwise Lil Empress Boot 🙂
and for my boyfriend I really really really like the Ampthill Boot.
I love the newest styles from Skechers !
Thanks Canadian Gift Guide!!!

Re: OMG, I luv the Mark Nason Dewbury. SkeWow, prize Amazon gc is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. Pick me, pick me! Dear Santa: I’ve been nice. My X-Mas wish this year is to win this contest.

I have 2 pairs of Sketcher runners. I would love Sketcher sandals and Sketcher flip flops. I am in bad need of a pair of winter boots, I know Sketchers would have 2 pairs to fit my needs! I love Sketchers because they fit my wide foot very nicely

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